Ning Tao said, “The patient needs to be attended to. Let's not sit down. It's not too late to talk after I've seen her.”

Yet, Zhang Zeshan had already sat down on the sofa. He took out a pack of cigarettes, then slowly took one out, lit it, and smoked. “I said there's no rush, then there's no rush. Come sit. Sit.”

Ning Tao wished he could give Zhang Zeshan a kick, given such an att.i.tude of his. He was so anxious, while Zhang Zeshan appeared completely indifferent in the face of an urgent situation. Did Jiang Hao's life and future mean nothing to this “superior”?

However, he still kept his composure and sat opposite Zhang Zeshan. “All right, what does Chief Zhang wish to talk to me about?”

Ning Tao quietly activated his state of looking as he was getting seated. He was not observing Zhang Zeshan's aura this time, but instead, his good energy and evil energy. Even though he had just attained the grade three elementary cultivation method and still could not instantly determine goodness and evilness, he could use his experience to aid his judgement.

If this Zhang Zeshan was a bad person and was preventing him from treating Jiang Hao, then he would not be polite to him!

Yet, the outcome surprised him. There was clearly good energy emanating from Zhang Zeshan. This guy with a smoking and drinking habit was actually a good person.

He was then puzzled. If Zheng Zeshan was a good person, then why was he stalling the doctor who could treat Jiang Hao?

Zhang Zeshan asked, “How did you manage to cure Lin Qinghua?”

Ning Tao deactivated his state of looking and said calmly, “Chief Zhang, I do not reveal my medical methodology. These are the rules of my sect. I seek your understanding. I can cure Jiang Hao, but I cannot tell you how I would do it.”

Zhang Zeshan revealed an enigmatic smile. “Capable people like you certainly have some personality, or rules, which are beyond understanding. You feel like the miracle doctor in wuxia films. All right, it's fine that you don't want to say. But could you at least tell me what the illness of Lin Qinghua and Jiang Hao is?”

The answer was actually just: “demon”. But Ning Tao could not say it.

Zhang Zeshan said, “I'm not clear about Lin Qinghua's situation, but I've looked at his report many times, even to the extent that I have nearly memorized it. But it did not specify what illness he had. Even though mental illness was mentioned, we've already invited the best psychologists in the country to see Comrade Jiang Hao, and they've already confirmed that she does not have mental illness, but they could not determine what her illness is. Thus, I wanted to hear the diagnosis by the miracle doctor.”

Ning Tao said, “Take me to see Jiang Hao then I'll be able to diagnose for you.”

Zhang Zeshan took another drag of the cigarette. “Doctor Ning, I think you've gotten my question wrong. I had asked what was Lin Qinghua's illness. You've already cured Lin Qinghua. It can't be that you had actually made no diagnosis at all, can it?”

Ning Tao pondered a while before speaking. “All right, I'll tell you. Lin Qinghua contracted from an illness of time-s.p.a.ce dislocation caused by a genetic mutation.”

“Time-s.p.a.ce dislocation due to genetic mutation?” Zhang Zeshan looked completely bewildered. He had clearly never heard of such an illness.

In fact, there was no illness named that in the world before Ning Tao said it. He had just invented it out of nowhere.

Ning Tao said, “Lin Qinghua thought that he was Emperor Xuanzong of Tang. That was time-s.p.a.ce dislocation. This illness is caused by genetic mutation. It boils down to being caused by the project of ancestor-seeking. That medicine was never supposed to exist. I don't understand why you all would still insist on researching it.”

Zhang Zeshan said, “The atomic bomb was not supposed to exist either, but a few big countries had raced each other to create it. A few small countries were even willing to be controlled in exchange for it. The project of ancestor-seeking is similar in nature. Even if it was not supposed to exist, we're still going to study it. Individual interest is negligible in the face of national interests. Do you understand this logic?”

“I do. I've already told you what illness Lin Qinghua had. Now take me to see Jiang Hao,” Ning Tao said.

“No rush,” Zhang Zeshan said, then took another drag.

Ning Tao could no longer control his anger. “Chief Zhang, what's the meaning of this? I can cure Jiang Hao but you're not allowing me to see her. What do you want?”

“It seems like you still do not understand what I just said,” Zhang Zeshan said coolly.

Ning Tao was suddenly stunned. He instantly realized something. Jiang Hao was suddenly and mysteriously infected, and now they were obstructing him from treating her. Could she have been used as a test subject? With that, it had angered him further, like oil added to a burning fire. His eyes were terrifyingly cold.

If this Zhang Zeshan had really used Jiang Hao as a test subject, he would not be forgiven even if he were a good person!

Zhang Zeshan seemed to have detected Ning Tao's change in mood, and said with a smile, “Don't be mad. Don't be worried. We're all only doing what we should. Just as you've said, there are secrets of your sect, and it's the same for us here as well. We can understand your feelings of wanting to go see Comrade Jiang Hao, but you will need to play by our rules.”

Ning Tao suppressed his anger and said, “Just tell me what do I need to do to see Jiang Hao and get to treat her.”

Zhang Zeshan said, “Sign a non-disclosure agreement, and also…”

Ning Tao said with a deep tone, “And what?”

Zhang Zeshan said, “Join the project of ancestor-seeking.”

“You want me to join the project of ancestor-seeking?” Ning Tao had not expected such a condition.

Zhang Zeshan smiled. “I believe that you can understand our condition. If you did not understand the project of ancestor-seeking, then you would not be able to treat Lin Qinghua. Besides, the prescription was found by you. This means that you have an affinity with the project of ancestor-seeking. We'll have an additional edge for success with you onboard. You would also be able to contribute to the country. Isn't it a good thing?”

Ning Tao pondered for a while. “All right, I'll promise you, but I don't like to be ordered around by people. I can provide you with medical services, but I will not come here to work. You can also leave the project of ancestor-seeking under my charge. I'll pick the people and I'll research it.”

Zhang Zeshan revealed a surprised expression. “You'll be in charge?”

Ning Tao nodded. “Yes, I'll be in charge. You can outsource the project of ancestor-seeking to me. You'll only have to provide me with the necessary support.”

“That…” Zhang Zeshan pondered for a while before speaking. “I'm a little tempted by your offer but I cannot make such a major decision by myself. Allow me to seek permission from my superiors.”

Ning Tao said, “You've given me a condition and this is my condition. Regardless of whether you want me to join the project of ancestor-seeking or leave it in my charge, I must see Jiang Hao and treat her first.”

Zhang Zeshan clapped, and a military police officer walked in immediately with a doc.u.ment bag in his hands.

The policeman left right after handing the bag to Zhang Zeshan.

Zhang Zeshan opened the doc.u.ment bag and took a copy of a doc.u.ment out. He pa.s.sed a pen to Ning Tao. “This is a non-disclosure agreement. Sign this first, then I'll take you to Jiang Hao.”

Ning Tao had only casually skimmed through before signing. No matter what was in the contract, it would not bind him. At this moment, only the Sky Clinic could bind him.

Zhang Zeshan put the non-disclosure agreement signed by Ning Tao back into the doc.u.ment bag, holding it. He got up and said, “Doctor Ning, follow me.”

Ning Tao followed Zhang Zeshan out of the reception room, walking through the corridor and into a lift.

The lift kept descending. It did not stop even at two floors underground, but continued going down. At this point, the lift no longer indicated what floor it was. No wonder a non-disclosure agreement had to be signed. Such a secret research base was clearly not somewhere anyone could enter as they liked.

Indeed, the lift came to a stop. Immediately after the door opened, they were faced with an open bas.e.m.e.nt area. Many researchers donned in protective clothing were working at their various positions or devices. There were also armed military policemen present.

With Zhang Zeshan leading the way, the path was un.o.bstructed. Going through the experimental zone, Ning Tao arrived at a quarantined area. Here, he saw Tang Zhen, who was crying at a gla.s.s wall, calling out Jiang Hao's name.

Ning Tao instantly furrowed his brows. He was reminded of the lineup room in police stations. The suspects were lined up in the room and the witness would identify them from behind a gla.s.s wall. The former could not see the latter but the latter could see the former. The people in the room also could not hear what was outside.

“Due to safety reasons, Comrade Jiang Hao is currently under quarantine. You will have to wear protective clothing to go in to see her,” Zhang Zeshan said to Ning Tao.

Ning Tao nodded and walked toward the gla.s.s wall.

Tang Zhen saw Ning Tao walking over and faced him. She said worriedly, “Tao, you're a capable doctor, please save Jiang Hao! I only have one daughter… Quick, quick, go cure Jiang Hao!”

She spoke to Ning Tao as she pulled him by the hand to the door of the quarantine room.

Ning Tao stabilized her emotions with spiritual powers while comforting her. “Auntie, don't panic. I'm already here so I will definitely cure her.”

That was the reason why he had requested to be in charge of the project of ancestor-seeking and be involved with the research. If Jiang Hao's condition had worsened and changed drastically in looks and personality after becoming a new demon, turning into a completely different person, he could still cure her and redeem her sins for her even if she would forget him. In order to do so, he would have to gain full control of the project of ancestor-seeking. He could destroy the project of ancestor-seeking but cover up his task with some other elixir. By then, he would have to say that it was the correct research outcome, and who could prove that it was not?

However, Tang Zhen had insisted on pulling Ning Tao to the door. And it was then when Ning Tao saw Jiang Hao inside the quarantine room.

Jiang Hao was lying on a bed, with her hands and legs tied up with tape. There was no way for her to move. Her face was clearly more emaciated than before, her eyes were sunken. Her complexion was no longer fair and smooth like before. It was yellowish and dark, and very dry. Her hair had also lost its l.u.s.ter, no longer black and luscious, just like dry gra.s.s. She was staring at the ceiling; her eyes were greenish and not moving at all.

With that glance, Ning Tao's heart shattered.